- This topic has 14 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
I own a 2009 accord that was in an accident. Engine (2.4L 4 cyl) overheated, block cracked, need a new one. It’s under insurance and they want to put a used engine in the car. I understand why and it’s fair. My question is this: Is it worth the extra cost to me to pay out of pocket for a remanufactured engine?
I bought the car new, and it has ~116k miles. I plan to keep it until the wheels fall off. I know this generation of engines had trouble with piston seals and oil consumption.
I don’t know what the cost difference will be yet, but my main concern is having something I can drive for many many miles.
I guess a third option would be to pay for a lower mileage used engine. Insurance want’s to put one in with 100k, like the one I had.
What would you do in my situation?
Thanks-
Joe
-
Replies
-
Sorry to hear about this Joseph and I hope it works out for you. If you really want to keep the car then having an engine that has been rebuilt using upgraded components seems like the only way to go. If you don’t do it that way you risk getting an engine in worse shape than what you have now. Plus I don’t know for sure but I would guess the warranty would be void on a replacement part, in this case the engine. If it were me I would want to control the process so I would let the insurance company pay for the used engine then I would take it to the rebuilder of my choice to get the top and bottom end done. Plus new timing pulleys, etc. If you can find a good reputable shop that will perform the entire process through installing the rebuilt engine, even better. Just make sure you find someone reputable, and qualified. If it costs a little more for the best guy around it will be well worth it in the long run.
You typically don’t have a lot to fear from Honda engines. I’d sooner put my faith in a good engine from a reputable salvage yard than spend extra money on a reman. The worst you might want to spend extra on is to reseal the oil pan, the valve cover, and probably install new main seals. It’s significantly faster repair since the engine is already going to be out in the open. Make sure the donor engine gets a fresh set of spark plugs in it as well as a timing belt if needed. This is all the maintenance work the engine is already due for anyway. Basically, everything I’m suggesting is just some preventive maintenance for the donor.
If the salvage yard is reputable and professional, you’ll get a small warranty for 3-6 months and maybe 5-6 thousand miles anyway. All you’d have to do is make sure the oil level is full and you should be reasonably well covered if the engine does happen to be a dud.
Before you agree to anything, look over your policy. See if there is any Like Kind Quality, used parts clauses. Also, most if not all insurance companies will back the work done to the car for as long as you own it, I know my policy does. If you have any concerns or feel you are being taken, contact the insurance commisioner in your state. Even a lawyer, although we all want to avoid going that route, would be a cheap one time consult to avoid headache later.
All that being said, what was stated above holds true, the insurance can, especially on an older car, use, used parts, but cannot just use junk.Apparently you missed the posts about 2008 – 2011 Accords with 4 cylinder engines having excessive oil usage problems. In this case there is an issue to be concerned about.
This is the first I’ve heard about it. According to this link, it’s got some specific and strange criteria for the consumption issue. In a nutshell, this article says owner abuse and poor gas are the root cause of those oil drinking problems. So now I’d want to stab a boroscope into the cylinders to look for scoring and read the old plugs on the donor, but I’m not sure I’d be so easily swayed to jump ship on a used engine yet. The article also says that it’s not a rampant problem for these engines. Right now, I’d be inclined keep looking into the salvage yard engine as the first option.
*EDIT*
My curiosity got the better of me and I did some more reading. It looks like I should have done more reading first. It seems the oil consumption problem is a lot bigger than what consumer reports downplayed it as. Maybe the right thing to do is get a salvage yard engine into the car and then trade it in for something else.
And strangely enough Toyota Camry 4 cylinder engines during similar model years also had excessive oil consumption issues. An owner did a Youtube video of his experience. Is this like the airbag issue that many manufacturers used the same supplier for the related parts?
Used engines,hear it run if in the car before it gets pulled.There is one junkyard in my area that puts a tag on the used engines saying it should be good.If you see something like this,you avoid it right away.Most used engines have a 90 day warranty on them.Most yards also drain the oil out and put a tag on the used engine saying the oil has been drained out.
[quote=”Joeseph23″ post=157728]
I don’t know what the cost difference will be yet, but my main concern is having something I can drive for many many miles.
I guess a third option would be to pay for a lower mileage used engine. Insurance want’s to put one in with 100k, like the one I had.
What would you do in my situation?
Thanks-
Joe[/quote]It all comes down to whether you want to keep the car. Trading it for a better car is what I would be doing after the repair is done.
But in your case you want to keep the car indefinitely. It seems obvious to me that if you install some unknown old engine with 100000 miles on it (allegedly but who can verify this mileage for you) and a dubious maintenance record you don’t know what expensive issues you will have with it in future and how long it will actually last which might be 6 months. You are probably going to have to spend a bunch of money on that old engine sooner or later or perhaps even pull it out and have to replace it.
You want to keep the car so if I were you I would get the best remanufactured engine available and pay for it yourself. IF you are lucky the insurance company might give you back the saving to them of not paying for the used piece of trash they will put in the car but I would not bank on it. I would wear the cost and know I am getting a decent engine for the money being spent. You are replacing your original engine with 116000 miles of use and lots of wear in any event and the insurance company is paying the removal and installation cost for a new engine.
[quote=”awry13″ post=157824]And strangely enough Toyota Camry 4 cylinder engines during similar model years also had excessive oil consumption issues. An owner did a Youtube video of his experience. Is this like the airbag issue that many manufacturers used the same supplier for the related parts?[/quote]
My understanding, which is pretty basic, is that the problem comes from a switch to low tension piston rings. The switch was driven by a desire to get more efficiency out of the engine. MPG, EPA, and all that jazz… Honda was sued and settled a class action suit on the issue.
The engine I had burned some oil, but at least I know that it was otherwise cared for since I bought it new. I also knew that the oil level never dropped too low, which is a problem with these engines since consumption plus people who don’t check oil levels never turns out well.
I’m waiting for insurance to see what my options are. Right now I’m leaning towards a used engine due to cost. My preference is to find one with lower miles but that might be like searching for a unicorn. I might change my mind if I could find a remanufactured engine builder with solid reputation. So many seem iffy, just like the used engines.
Insurance just wants to get the claim off their desk, but I don’t feel cheated. The engine I had was used and state law clearly allows used parts. Insurance also doesn’t want to spend any extra effort making sure the used engine is in decent shape. That’s frustrating.
I’ll post an update when I get more information. I really appreciate the feedback.
Joe
[quote=”cam0888″ post=157828][quote=”Joeseph23″ post=157728]
It all comes down to whether you want to keep the car. Trading it for a better car is what I would be doing after the repair is done.
[/quote]
I’m strongly considering this as well.
For the most part I think you’d be fine with the used engine. Perhaps you’ll get lucky like I did with the Tahoe engine. That only had 11miles on it. The reman would be the best way to go, but if it’s cost prohibitive, then I think you’d be fine with a salvage unit.
As pointed out, you might consider trading it after the repairs. That way you can wash your hands of it and you won’t have to worry about it going forward. It’s been my experience that vehicles are never quite right after a significant collision.
Good luck and please let us know what you end up doing.
Insurance approved a used engine, so I’m going to give that a shot. 6mo warranty, with fewer miles than the engine I had. I plan to drive it for a while and then decide to keep the car or trade it before the 6months is up. The extra cost for a re-manufactured engine seems better spent on a trade if it comes to that.
Labor for the replacement covers nothing more than the basic swap and an oil change. I’m willing to spend more to fix or replace some things that could prevent problems in the future.
In other words, what else should I consider replacing while the engine is out?
Joe
Spark plugs and reseal anything that’s showing a leak. The valve cover gasket & spark plug grommets could probably just be changed with or without a leak. Otherwise, it shouldn’t really need much.
The repair shop selected an engine from a 2008 Accord that had substantially fewer miles than the old engine. It will take some time to tell if I’ll avoid any oil consumption problems, but the car seems to run well for now.
I think the techs did a nice job on the swap. You can tell when someone cares about their work because they pay attention to the details. Wires and hoses are clipped back into place, parts were cleaned up a bit before install, and so on.
I’m happy with the work and only time will tell if the used engine holds up. 6 month warranty, so I plan to drive it for a few months before deciding to keep or trade.
Thanks for the advice.
Joe
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.